James madison ceoss



(No Model.)

J. M. CROSS.

- BARTH AUGBR.

Patented May 12, 1885..

lilllIIIII m W. m

N. PETERS. PhomLnnogmphar, wnshngmn. D, c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MADISON CROSS, OF MARIETTA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTII TOWILSON E. CONNER, OF SAME PLACE.

EARTH-AUGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,739, dated May 12,1885.

Application filed November 28, i884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. Gaoss, of Marietta, in the county ofWashington and State of Ohio,have invented acer-tain new and usefulImprovement in Earth-Angers; and I do hereby declare the following to bea fuli, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and useit, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in earth-borers; and it consists,first, in the combination, with the cylinder having a cuttingedge uponits bottom, of a hinged valve placed upon the bottom., and which has its.hinge or pivot placed at an angle to a radial line from the center ofthe bottom of the cylinder, so that the valve will close readily andquickly; second, in the combination of the cylinder, the valve placedupon its bottom, and a sliding locking device for the purpose of causingthe valve to shut before beginning to raise the cylinder.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section taken through an earth-augerembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom ofthe auger,showing the angle at which the valve is fastened in position. Fig. 3 isa detail.

A represents the cylinder of the auger or borer, which is provided withthe cutting edge or point B upon its lower end in the usual manner. Thiscutting-edge forms a part of the casting C, which forms the bottom ofthe auger, and which casting has the flange D formed around its outeredge. This flange catches over the lower edge of the cylinder, and beingof greater diameter than the cylinder, the side of the cylinder isprevented from coming in contact with the sides of the hole that isbeing bored. The hole bored must necessarily be as large as the diameterof the casting C, and this diameter being greater than that of thecylinder only the iiange I) will touchV the side of the hole as theauger is being raised and lowered. By means of this construction a greatdeal of unnecessary fric-V tion is prevented and an unnecessary waste ofpower in forcing the auger down into position and withdrawing it.

Secured to the upper opposite sides of the cylinder are the two bracesE, which are inclined toward each other for a suitable distance, andwhich then have their ends turned upward, so as to be parallel. Thelower end ofthe boring rod or shaft F is pivoted between these ends uponthe, bolt H, as shown. A slide G is dropped down over the ends of thebraces and the boring rod or shaft. The shaft is thus locked 4in a linewith the braces, and the cylinder is then locked rigidly in position.1When the slide Gr is forced upward above the ends of the braces, thecylinder can be turned upward at an angle to the boring rod or shaft forthe purpose of emptying the contents ofthe cylinder freely out. Therethe cylinder is not pivoted to the drill-shaft its contents can only beemptied out with considerable trouble and with a loss of time; but

t where the cylinder is pivoted to the drill-rod or shaft, after thecylinder has been raised above the level ofthe ground, the cylinder cany be emptied with the greatest ease.

Passing through the'center of the cylinder is the airtube J, whichhasits lower end shaped so as to bore and cut into the earth. The upperend of this air-tube is secured to one of the braces in any suitablemanner, while its lower end is simply centered in place by being passedthrough an opening in the casting U. This tube serves to allow the airto pass freely back and forth while the cylinder is being raised andlowered, and thus prevents the air from being compressed in the holewhen the cylinder is'being lowered, or a suction from being exerted uponthe bottom of the cylinder when the cylinder is being raised.

In the bottom of the cylinder is placed the valve Il, which has theiiange N formed upon its outer side, for the purpose of closing theopening which is made in the bottom of the cylinder ,and the casting C.This valve laps a portion ofthe central shaft, and, instead of havingits pivot or hinge on a radial line with the center of the bottom ot'the cylinder, here has its hinge or pivot set at an angle to a radialline, so that the valve can drop more readily and quickly than it willdo where the hinge or pivot is placed upon a radial line. By thisarrangement of the valve it is placed farther from the edge of thebottom C, and a IOO wider and larger Valve can be used. Owing to theshape of the valve, a greater pressure of the earth is brought to bearupon it than if it was made of the ordinary triangular shape, and henceit closes quickly.' In order to close this valve before beginning toraise the cylinder out of the hole which it has dug, a pushj rod orlocking-slide, O, is placed inside of the cylinder, as shown. rlhisslide will be operated by means of a rod or other connection, which willextend up to the surface of the ground; or the slide may be simply usedto regulate the distance which the valve shall open upward. Where thevalve is allowed to be opened freely upward, as the cylinder becomesfilled, the valve can only close when the cylinder is being raised byallowin ga considerable portion ofthe earth or sand in the bottom of thecylinder to escape.

proportion of the load which has been covered runs out before the valvecan close. When it is discovered that quicksand has been reached, theslide will be pushed downward, so as to allow the valve just enough roomto allow the Where the contents ot' the y cylinder consists ot'quicksand, a very large sand to pass freely in and to cause the valve 3to quickly close as soon as the cylinder begins to rise.

1. The combination of the cylinder A, the

braces E, and rod F with the tube J, which has its lower end formed intoa'cutt-ing-tool, and which has its upper end centered in position bymeans of an arm which is fastened to one ofthe braces, substantially asshown.

2. The combination of the earth-auger, a Valve pivoted in its bottom,and a sliding and adjustably locking rod, which is placed inside of theauger and used to close the valve or limit the amount ot'its upwardmovement, substantially as shown.

3. The combination ot an earth-auger having an opening in its bottom ofthe shape shown with the valve Il, which laps a portion of the centralshaft, which is hinged to one edge of this opening, so that its hingestands at an angle to a radial line extending from its center,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I atx my signature in presence ci' two witnesses.

JAMES MADISON GROSS.

VitneSSeS WILSON E. GONNER, CHAs. H. NEWTON.

